Washington, DC - Congressman Steven Palazzo (MS-4) released the following statement after the House passed the Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act (H.R. 200), better known as the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
“As a Gulf Coast native and lifetime sportsman, I know firsthand the importance of supporting, protecting, and sustaining Mississippi's fishing industry. While the Magnuson-Stevens Act has enabled us to build a strong foundation for fisheries management, too many fishermen along the Gulf Coast and across the country have experienced drastic cuts to quotas, limited fishing seasons, and increasing costs. H.R. 200 largely addresses these issues.
This legislation accomplishes three major wins for the fishing industry. It modernizes fisheries management giving greater autonomy to states through the Regional Fishery Management Councils, improves the science and data used for management, quotas, and season lengths, and contains provisions from the Modern Fish Act (H.R. 2023) that significantly benefit the recreational sector.
Saltwater fishing is a way of life for many throughout the United States and this bipartisan bill is an integral part to improving our nation’s fisheries management. Furthermore it's a huge win for thousands of Mississippi's saltwater recreational anglers.”
H.R. 200 reauthorizes the Magnuson-Stevens Conservation and Fishery Management Act. It extends the three-mile red snapper boundary to nine miles for the Gulf Coast states. It also gives regional fishery management councils a better opportunity to determine and assess catch limits using various metrics as an alternatives to quotas based on pounds that currently set catch limits.
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